Mops with extracting mechanism and aligning mechanism therefor



Aug. 21, 1962 P. s. VOSBIKIAN ETAL 3,049,740

MOPS WITH EXTRACTING MECHANISM AND ALIGNING MECHANISM THESEFOR FiledJune 13,

fa r LE I ZQZQZ amsl wizzzzm ATTORNEY wM r \N \N N\ k United Statesatent 3,049 740 MOPS WITH EXTRACTIlJG MECHANISM AND ALIGNING MECHANISMTIEREFGR Peter S. Vosbikian, Melrose, Pa., and Thomas S. Vosbikian, 101270th Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. Filed June 13, 1960, Ser. No. 35,519 2Claims. (Cl. 15-119) The object of this invention is to devise a novelstrand type mop and novel extracting mechanism therefor.

A further object is to devise novel means for aligning automatically, onthe return stroke of the extractor, the opening in the extractor withthe mop head.

With the foregoing and other objects in view as will hereinafter clearlyappear in the detailed description and the appended claims, ourinvention comprehends a novel construction and arrangement of a strandtype mop and novel extracting mechanism which can be manually orautomatically positioned for the forward or extracting stroke of theextractor.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, we have shown in theaccompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of it which we have foundin practice to give satisfactory and reliable results. It is, however,to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which theinvention consists can be variously arranged and organized, and theinvention is not limited, except by the appended claims as to the exactarrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein setforth.

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a mop and extracting mechanism, embodyingour invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional elevation on line 22 of FIG- URE l, theextractor ring being shown in contact with the cam in position to bemoved by the cam over the mop handle.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation with the guide link in section.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation with the extractor in section showing theextractor in the position it assumes in its forward extracting stroke.

FIGURE 5 is a section on line 55 of FIGURE 2.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings:

The mop handle 1 is of reduced size at its forward end and as shownterminates in a rectangular bar 2, having an off-center slot 3 formingan off-center hook 4. The hook 4 interlocks with the walls of anoff-center opening 5 in the closed end of a cap sleeve 6 forming a partof a mop head 7. Folded absorbent strands 8 of any desired type such asfor example cotton or spaghetti type are secured by a U-shaped rod inmop formation, the sides of the rod passing through the end of the capsleeve and bent over to fix them to the cap sleeve. When the mop headand handle are angularly disposed to each other the hook 4 can beengaged with the walls of the slot or opening 5, and when such parts arebrought into longitudinal alignment a locking cylinder 10 having itsinner end closed is moved into frictional engagement with the cap sleeveto maintain the locked engagement of the mop head and its handle. Theend of the cylinder is slotted to permit the bar 2 to pass therethrough.

An extractor 1'1 has a central opening 12 conforming in size and contourto the shape of the mop head and is provided with a bottom slot 13whereby it can pass over the bar 2 to bring its opening intolongitudinal alignment with the mop head. The upper portion of theextractor is fixedly connected with a controlling handle 14 by fasteningdevices 15.

The extractor handle 14 is pivoted at its rear end at 16 to a handlesleeve 17 having a pin "18 which travels in a longitudinal groove 19 inthe handle 1. The handle 14 extends rearwardly beyond its pivot to forma finger or pressure piece 20 to efiect the raising of the extractor 11.

3,49,'Z40 Patented Aug. 21, 1962 The extractor handle passes throughwith a clearance a guide link 21 pivoted at 22 to the mop handle and hasan inclined top bearing face for the handle 14.

In order to provide for the automatic alignment of the extractor withthe mop head on the return or rearward movement of the extractor, weprovide a cam 23 slotted to receive the bar 2 with a sleeve portionfitting on the inner portion of the mop handle and fixed thereto by afastening device 24. The cam 23 has a downwardly and rearwardly inclinedcam face 25 which is in the path of the extractor on the rearwardmovement of the extractor. The cam is preferably made of plastic.

The front face of the cam 23 is wedge-shaped having its central portionextending further forwardly than the sides and flaring outwardly to thesides. Thus, when the split ring on its rearward movement contacts thecam, the wedge-shaped portion of the cam will spread the sides of thesplit ring and force the extractor ring downwardly over the handle intoaligned position with the mop head.

The side walls of the extractor are preferably flexible for expansionand contraction, and, if desired, a spring 26 can be mounted on theextractor, the spring having a slot which registers with the slot in theextractor.

In the operation, assuming that the extractor is in longitudinalalignment with the mop head, the operator moves the handle sleeve 17forwardly as will be understood from FIGURE 4 to perform the extractingoperation. He next presses the pressure piece 20 downwardly to raise theextractor above the mop head and moves the handle sleeve rearwardly. Theextractor 11 contacts the cam 23 and is forced downwardly over the bar 2into longitudinal alignment with the mop head ready for the forwardextracting stroke of the extractor.

The guide 21 limits the upward movement of the extractor handle andextractor and guides the handle and extractor in their downwardmovement.

If desired the cam 23 can be omitted, in which case the extractor ismoved downwardly into aligned position by the hand of the operator.

In a copending application, Serial No. 28,448, filed May 11, 1960, theextractor was pivotally carried by its handle and its alignment with themop head was made on the forward stroke of the extractor, While in thisinvention, the extractor is fixedly connected with its handle and theextractor is aligned by a cam on the return stroke of the extractor.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A mop, comprising a mop head and a handle connected with said mophead, in combination with extracting mechanism having a ring with a slottherethrough to permit the ring to pass over the handle into alignmentwith the mop head and movable over the mop head for a forward extractingstroke and movable rearwardly for a ring positioning stroke, a rod fixedat its front end to said ring, a sleeve slidable on the mop handle andpivotally connected with the other end of said rod to efiect forward andrearward movement of the ring, and cam means on the mop handle contactedby the ring during its rearward movement to cause the cam to move thering over the mop handle into longitudinal alignment with the mop head.

2. The means defined in claim 1, wherein the sides of the ring areflexible and capable of expansion and contraction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS "the1,384,555 Cunningham July 12, 1921 2,820,232 Vosbikian et al. Jan. 21,1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 771,160 France July 16, 1934

